Dr Rami Ranger CBE and Zac Goldsmith MP appointed as the new Co-Chairmen of the Conservative Friends of India

Dr Rami Ranger CBE and Zac Goldsmith MP appointed as the new Co-Chairmen of the Conservative Friends of India.

Conservative Friends of India (CF India), a group affiliated to the Conservative Party which aims to build stronger links between the Conservative Party, the British Indian community and India, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Rami Ranger CBE and Mr Zac Goldsmith MP as the organisations new Co-Chairmen.

Dr Ranger and Mr Goldsmith bring a wealth of experience to their new roles. Zac Goldsmith was first elected MP for Richmond Park and North Kingston in 2010 and has won a number of awards for his campaigns in Parliament.

Rami Ranger is a founding member of the Hindu Forum of Britain, and Chairman of the Pakistan, India & UK Friendship Forum, and the British Sikh Association. His company, Sun Mark Ltd, is the only company in the UK to have been awarded 5 consecutive Queens Awards for enterprise. He is also the Patron of the Punjabi Society of British Isles, Combat Stress and Fellow of the Prince’s Trust. As a key supporter of youth and skills development, Rami is a member of the government's Apprenticeship Delivery Board and an Ambassador for the Food and Drinks Industry in the development of apprenticeships and job creation throughout the UK. In 2005 he was made a Member of the British Empire and in 2016 the Commander of British Empire for his services to British Business and the Asian Community.

Prime Minister Theresa May said:

“The UK would not be the vibrant country that it is today without the enormous contribution of successive generations of British Indians. Conservative Friends of India plays an important role in strengthening the links between our Party and the British Indian community, and in supporting the flourishing friendship between the UK and India. I know that under Rami Ranger and Zac Goldsmith’s leadership, CF India will go from strength and strength as a valued part of our Conservative family.”

His Excellency the High Commissioner of India YK Sinha said:

“I welcome the appointment of Dr Rami Ranger CBE as the Co-Chairman and look forward to working closely with the Conservative Friends of India to further UK India relations.”

Dr Ranger CBE said:

“I am deeply honoured to be appointed as Co-Chairman of Conservative Friends of India along with Zac Goldsmith MP, an organisation that recognises the contributions and values of the British Indian community within the United Kingdom and strives to build closer ties with India.

“As Co-Chairman of the Conservative Friends of India, I will work to further enhance the involvement of the British Indian community in the political life of our great country which will bring about a positive change to the UK through their participation within the Conservative Party and political service in UK.

“I am putting together a new team at CF India which will help me with the required support network to truly allow CF India to capitalise and maximise on the significant and exciting opportunities we have at hand both in the UK and with greater trade and cultural ties with India as the UK’s key Commonwealth partner.

“The relationship between the Conservative Party, and the India diaspora, is the closest it has ever been. I look forward to working with CF India to ensure the Party continues to build on the strong ties with British Indian communities”

Zac Goldsmith MP said:

“It is a real honour to be Co-Chairman of Conservative Friends of India, and to be able to work alongside Dr Rami Ranger CBE. CF India is already an important organisation, and it has an even brighter future. The British Indian Community is such an important part of what makes our country successful, and the relationship between Britain and India is not only a deep and lasting, it is becoming ever more important. Through CF India, we will continue to strengthen that bond.”